Press Releases for America's Best Litigators

FEB 23 | 2016

The Calwell Practice Wins 2015 Litigator Award

Edited by Amy Harris

The Calwell Practice, LC named 2015 Litigator Award Winner. Having been conferred this prestigious National Award, the firm ranks among the Top 1% of all lawyers for: Toxic & Environmental, Automobile Accident, Harmful Drug, and Catastrophic Injury Litigation.

Justly standing as the nations most coveted symbol of “Litigation Achievement”, this unrivaled annual honor recognizes trial lawyers {firms} who have attained extraordinary litigation achievement within one or more of 72 pre-defined “Practice Specialty” categories. Based strictly on “Verdict and/or Settlement” dollar achievement rather than peer popularity, the Litigator Awards are perhaps the most rigorous and openly judged trial law rating. Simply being nominated is to be set among the elite of the profession. Those awarded are generally considered among the finest trial lawyers in the nation.

To be Award Eligible, Nominees must prove achievement of litigation “Performance Benchmarks” that includes not less than:

a). One verified “Verdicts or Settlements” of at-least $1 Million Dollars in any one Practice Specialty category within the preceding 5 year period prior to Nomination*, or

b). One verified “Verdict or Settlement” of at-least $5 Million Dollars in any one Practice Specialty category within the preceding 10 year period prior to Nomination**, or

c). One verified “Verdict or Settlement” of at-least $10 Million Dollars in any one Practice Specialty category within the preceding 20 year period prior to Nomination.

It is a feat achieved by fewer than 1% of all Lawyers, and truly a testament to each Award Recipient’s remarkable performance relative to peers. Of the nearly 1.1 Million lawyers considered, only a select few per State or DMA, will achieve the distinction of being awarded annually in any given Practice Specialty*.

Winning a 2015 Litigator Award is a “Powerful Endorsement” of superior litigation achievement that provides discerning clientele {as well as referring professionals} with a strong reason to trust their case with an Award Recipient. Moreover, it offers a testament to their remarkable performance relative to peers.

Stuart Calwell is a founding member of The Calwell Practice, LC. Stuart has nearly 40 years of experience and is admitted to state and federal courts in West Virginia and New York, and to the U.S. Supreme Court. His practice areas include asbestos litigation, environmental law, toxic torts, personal injury, medical malpractice and labor law. In addition to being a dedicated jurist, Stuart is an author who has published several articles and papers about personal injury and workplace accidents.

Melissa “Missy” Luce returned to West Virginia from New Jersey in 2008 after nearly 20 years. Her more than 25 years of experience is an asset to The Calwell Practice, LC. Missy is licensed to practice law in West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania state and federal courts. While in New Jersey, Missy was certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a distinction earned by less than one percent of the legal profession in New Jersey. Missy is also AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® for ethical and legal ability, which indicates that her peers have ranked her at the highest level of professional excellence, and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Prior to joining our law firm, Missy handled medical malpractice and general personal injury litigation cases for New Jersey law firm Stephen S. Weinstein, PA, from April 1994 to 2008. Before moving to New Jersey, she spent her first six years of practice in Charleston as a lawyer for Di Trapano & Jackson. Her practice continues to focus on medical malpractice and pharmaceutical litigation, product liability, wrongful death, construction injuries and automobile accidents. Missy also serves as Managing Attorney at The Calwell Practice.

NOTABLE CASES

Automobile AccidentsBragg, et al. v. Logan County Fire Department Station 2, Inc., et al.Verdict or Settlement: ConfidentialThe Calwell Practice represented a young boy and his family in an action to recover damages sustained when an emergency response vehicle collided with the vehicle in which the plaintiff was riding.

Amputation InjuryRepresenting Working West VirginiansVerdict or Settlement: ConfidentialThe Calwell Practice represented a coal miner and his family in an action against several defendants for injuries sustained when the plaintiff was struck by a piece of heavy equipment while working underground. Our client sustained several amputations, but miraculously survived.

Harmful DrugsRepresenting Clients throughout the United States Verdict or Settlement: ConfidentialThe Calwell Practice represented hundreds of women across the country in causes of action for injuries sustained from ingesting a dangerous pharmaceutical.